At the airport in Antalya, Turkey, police arrested a foreign couple of tourists for attempting to smuggle “suspicious” stones out of the country. By a court decision, one received a real prison sentence – almost a year in prison.
As Turkish media reported, the incident occurred on November 16. Belgian tourists were detained by customs officers because… They were suspected of transporting prohibited goods. After inspecting the suitcase, customs officers discovered suspicious elements of the structure wrapped in paper and clothing.
According to the results of a study conducted by the Antalya Museum Directorate, it was found that the stones are of high value because they date back to the Roman era. After their arrest, the couple were released under judicial control, but they were banned from leaving the country.
The Antalya Prosecutor’s Office prepared an indictment against the man with luggage containing antiques. According to the Law on the Protection of Cultural and Natural Heritage article, the prosecutor requestedentence of imprisonment for up to 12 years and a fine. However, the decision of the Turkish court turned out to be more lenient. For attempting to remove items of historical value from Turkey, a Belgian man was sentenced to 10 months in prison and a fine. Applying the provisions for repentance of the accused, the court decided to postpone the announcement of the verdict.